Separable fastener slider



NOV. 7, 1939. 1 BROZEK y 2,178,949

` SEPARABLE FASTENER SLIDER Filed May 19, 1938 l E M 67 MLKTQRNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,178,949 l SEPARABLE FASTENER SLIDER Joseph Brozek, Jackson -Heights, Long Island,V

N. Y., assignor to Waldes Koh-I-Noor, Inc., Long Island City, vN. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 19, '1938, Serial N0. 208,735

13 claims'.

This invention relates to sliders for separable fasteners of the slide-operated type and has for its principal object to provide a new and improved means for locking the slider against movement on the fastener in any position of its travel without injury to or excessive, wear of the parts of which such slider is constituted. l

Separable fasteners of the type above indicated are well known and usually comprise a pair of stringers having rows of interlocking elements attached along the opposed edges thereof and a slider embracing both rows of elements and movable along such rows for interlocking or disengaging the elements. Movement of the slider is usually accomplished by the manual operation of a finger tab which is pivotally attached to a projection or lug provided on the outer or front plate of the slider. Many slide fasteners also include means for covering the interlocking elements,`

such covering means usually comprising flexible material, such as rubber or strips of fabric, having portions which overlie the elements and ex-` tend from the root or attached portions of the elements out to approximately the outer projecting ends of the elements so that when the rows of elements have been interlocked by the slider the outer edges of the covering strips meet and thereby hide the elements from view. In such fastener constructions the plates of the slider are usually spaced to embraceV not only the interlocking elements but also the covering strips overlying the same. It is sometimes desirable to provide the slider with locking means operative to maintain the slider in position on the fastener at any point of its range of travel and for this purpose various constructions have been proposed among which is the idea of providing locking pins or fingers in such association with the front plate of the slider thatthey are insertable through openings in such plate and into' the paths of the elements disposed within the slider, the most successful construction being that in which the locking pins are provided on the pull tab of the slider. While this type of locking means is satisfactory for those separable fasteners in which the elements are not concealed by covering material, it has not been at all satisfactory for separable fasteners in which the elements underlie a covering fabric because the locking pins must necessarily penetrate the covering matigjajlid-extend into the spaces between adjact interlocking elements in order to function properly, so that, after a while such covering fabric becomes frayed and broken, thereby giving theA fastener an unsightly appearance. Another disadvantage of this type of locking means is that when the user wants to disengage the fastener elements by, grasping the Stringer edges and pulling them apart, instead of operating the slider itself, as is quite often-the casein connection with womens corsets and mens trousers, there is the danger that the pull tab will pivot so that the locking pins will be caught in the covering fabric rushing through the slider and tear the same.

According to this invention, an improved form` of lock slider is provided in which the locking lugs are positioned on a spring member mounted on the back of the slider and arranged to enter through openings provided in the back plate of the slider under the control of a member actuated by the pull tab so that such locking lugs are insertable into locking engagement with the fastener elements without penetration of the covering fabric which may overlie such elements.

Another feature of the invention is that the locking lugs which are mounted on a resilient base are so formed that they offer no bar to the vmanual movement of the slider in one direction even through they may be disposed in locking position in the spaces between the plates of the slider and yetwill effectively function to stop movement of the slider in the opposite direction. A further feature of the invention is that means are provided to hold the locking members in with- 'drawn or unlocked position so that movement of the'slider with respect to the rows of elements may be obtained by separating the stringers without any detrimental effects on the parts comprising the slide fastener.

A still further featureof the invention is that the operation of the locking members on the resilient means iscontrolled by a slidable Vmember mounted on the front plate of the slider and such slidable member is in turn controlled by the movement of the pull' tab.`

Other features and advantages of this invention as well as the novel details of construction thereof will become more apparent after a perusal of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a slider made in accordance with the invention, several of the parts thereof being shown in section for the purpose of clearness; Fig. 2 is an upper end view of the slider shown in Fig. 1 with the pull tab shown disposed against the outer surface of the front plate thereof; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the condition of i the partswhen the locking detents are withdrawn to inoperative position, the pull tab being shown in position to lock such detents against movement back into the slider; Fig. 4 is a sectionA taken front and back plates, respectively, of the slider between which are formed the passages through which pass the rows of interlocking elements at.

tached in staggered relation along the opposedY edges of the stringers of the fastener structure and the covering strips which overlie such fastener elements and which preferably form part o'f the material of which the strips are constituted and which are preferably secured to the outer surfaces of the fastener elements by some means such as stitches. For convenience, I will refer to that end of the slider which is foremost whenthe slider is vmoved in the locking direction to interlock the fastener elements, as the upper end of the slider, while the opposite end of' the slider which extends in the direction of the interlocked elements will be referred to as the lower end of the slider. The passages or chan- -`nels between the plates IIJ andII aresubstantially Y-shaped, the upper or converging channels Which are indicated generally by the numerals I2 and I3 (see Fig. 2) being dened by the wedge-shaped section I4 disposed centrally in the upper portion of the slider and the upper portions of the flanges I5 and I6 which are disposed to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3,`

and which extend inwardly from the front and back plates I0 and II, respectively (see Fig. 2). The centrally disposed passageway or channel I1 into which the passageways I2 and I3 converge is defined by the lower portions of the flanges I5 and I6 or the left hand portions of such anges, as is viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. The passageways I2 and I3 bring the rows of elements into proper relation to be interlocked when they reach the channel I1 as the slider is moved upwardly on the fastener structure or in the locking direction and the wedge-shaped section I4 forces the interlocked elements apart into uninterlocked relation when. the slider is moved in the opposite or unlocking direction, as is well known in the art.

Actuation of the slider along the rows of interlocking elements on the stringers is accomplished usually by manual operation of a pull tab I8 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a lug I9 by means of the transverse portion 20 thereof which extends through an aperture 2l provided in the lug -I9, as is shownA more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. The lug I9 is provided at its lower or left end, as Viewed in such figures, with a reducedportion 22 which rests on the outer surface of the front plate I0 and extends into the opening formed by a strap 23 which has been stamped out of the material of which the top plate is constituted and which fastens such end of the lug I9 to the front plateI member I4 and the lug I9 in position on the slider.

Provided on the outer surface of the back plate II of the slider, is a flat spring 25 which is attached to said back plate by ,means of a projection 2'6 which has been stamped out of the material of which the back plate is constituted and then after "the spring 25, which is provided with an aperture to receive such projection, has been positioned thereon, flattened out, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, to securely fasten such spring to the back plate. Provided on the spring 25 are a pair of locking lugs or detents 21 and 28 which are arranged thereon. so that they extend into openings provided in theback plate 15 II of the slider within the confines of the converging passages I2 and I3 and adjacent the upper ends of the flanges I6 -of such back plate.

, The locking lugs 21 and 28 are formed by turning up at right angles to the spring 25 two out- 20 wardly extending portions provided on the side edges of such spring. The spring 25 is tensioned' so as to normally engage with the outer surface of the back plate II of the slider and to project the locking lugs 21 and 28 intothe path of the 25 interlocking elements contained in the passageways of the slider, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer ends of the locking lugs 21 and 23 are adapted to engage -between the interlocking elements of each Stringer and are formed so that 30 they positively prevent movement of the slider in the direction for unlocking the fastener elements until removed ,from the path of movement of such elements, but present no obstruction to movement of the slider in the opposite 35 direction, being preferably shaped to enable the fastener elements to cam them out of the path of movement thereof as the slider is moved in the opposite or locking direction. The locking lug 21 as well as the recess through which it ex- 40 tends, are staggered with relation to the locking lug 28 and its opening, (see Fig. 2), so that such locking lugs may both engage between the staggered elements of the separated rows atthe same time when the slider is locked in position 45 on the fastener structure. Integrally formed with the free or upper end of the spring 25 is an outwardly extending portion 30 which is disposed in a'recess 3l formed in the neck 32 connecting the front plate I0 and back plate II of 50 the slider and which extends at right angles to plane of the spring 25 outwardly beyond the outer surface of the front plate I0 and terminates in an offset V-shaped head 33 adapted to engage with the upper end of a housing member 34.

The housing member 34 is tted over the pull tab lug I9 and is connected in sliding engagement with respect thereto by two spaced sets of inturned edges 35 and 36 which engage'with two sets of longitudinally extending recesses or guide- 50 ways 31 and 38, respectively, provided on said lug adjacent to the outer surface of the front plate I 0 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The upper set of inwardly turned guide edges 35 of the housing member 34 are separated from the lower set of 65 guide edges 36 by apertures 39 which are in alignnient with the'aperture 2l of the lug I9 and are of the pull tabl8. The inner edge of the upper or right hand end portion -of the housing member 34, as viewed ,in Figs. 1 and 3, beyondthe inturned edges 35, is formed to provide an inoffset head 33 of the spring portion 36 is disposed between the inclined edgesurfacs 40 and 4I of of thehousing member 34 functions to depress lns the housing member 34, the spring 25 will be enabled to insert the locking lugs 21`and 28 into the path of movement of the interlocking ele-A ments contained in the 'slider. of the parts, the'back-turned lower end 43 of the housing 34 will engage with the lower shoul der 44 of the lug I9 and the pull tab I8 may be lowered to horizontal position by engaging the -recess 45 thereof with the strap 23-provided on the front plate I6 of the slider. To withdraw the locking lugs 21 and 28 from between'the interlocking elements of 'the fastener structure and thereby enable the slider to be moved in the unlocking direction or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the pull tab I8 is disengaged from the strap 23 and pulled in such direction so that the transverse portion 20 of such pull tab willengage with the lower edges .of the apertures 39 and slidably move the housing member 34 downwardly or to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, until the lower edges of such apertures are in alignment with the lower edge of the aperture 2le as is shown in Fig. 3. The length of the reduced portion 22 of the lug I3 is such that in this position of the housing member 34 the down-turned portion 43 thereof engages with the strap member 23 which functions as a stop to prevent further movement of the housing member 34. During the movement of the housing member 34 in this direction, the eamming edge 4I on the upper end the portion 36 of the spring 25 thereby moving the free end of the spring away from the outer surface of the back plate II and withdrawing the locking lugs 21 and 28 out of the path of movement of the interlocking elements and into their associated recesses. The parts may be locked in this position by engaging the recess 46 provided on the pull tab I6 of the slider with the strap member 23 thereby enabling the user to unlock the fastener structureby grasping the upper ends of the stringers and forcing them apart without any danger of the locking lugs -moving into the path of the interlocking elements rushing through the slider. When the slider is moved in the opposite or locking direction, due to the shape of the locking lugs 21 and 26, the interlocking elements passing through the slider will cam such locking lugs out of position thereby permitting movement of the slider in such di' rection. While in -the construction illustrated,

the locking lugs are positively removed from the path of the interlocking elements in the slider for only one direction of movement of the latter, it will be understood that the locking lugs 21.

and 26 may be positively moved from the path of movement of the interlocking elements for movement of the slider in the' locking direction of the slider by associating with the lower end of the inclined surface 46 a locking notch similar to the locking notch 42 so that' as the housing member is forced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the

inclined surface 40 will depress the portion 36 of In this condition in which similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the three views, the slidable housingill has integrally formed at its upper end a transverse portion I which corresponds to the spring portion 36 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and which spans the neck 32 of the slider. The transverse portion 5I is connected at its back end with a plate 52 which is in flat engagement with the outer surface of the back plate of the slider 53. The plate 52 is provided at its lower or left end, as viewed in'Figs. 5 and 6, with a pair of back-turned guide lugs 54 which extend through longitudinally extending slots 55 pro*- vided in the lower end of the back plate 53' and engage in guide grooves'56 formed along each side of the portion 51 of the back plate disposed between the slots 55.` Thus a's the housing mem-` ber 56 is moved longitudinally with respect to the outer surface of the front plate I0, the plate portion 52 thereof will be moved therewith, the guide lugs 54 extending through the slots 55 slidably moving in the guide grooves 56. The depth of the guide groooves 56 and the thickness of the portions of the guide lugs 54 disposed in such grooves are preferably such that the interior surfaces of such portions `of the lugs 54 are flush with the interior surface of theback plate 53, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The plate portion 52 is provided with a longitudinally extending, rectangularly-shaped recess 60 in that surface which is adjacent to the outer surface of the back plate 53 and disposed in such recess 66 is a spring member 6I. The length of the spring member 6I is approximately the same as that of the recess 60 so that it is ca-rried with the latter during the slidable movement of the plate 52 and the thickness of such springv member is approximately' the same as the depth ofthe recess 66 so that its outer surface is ush with the. interior surface of the plate 52. The

spring member 6I is slotted lengthwise to provide two spring tongues 62 and 63 along the outer edges of said Aspring member 6I, as is shown more clearly in Fig.' '1. 'I'he tongues 62 and 63 are provided at their outer or free ends with looking lugs 64 and 65, respectively, formed by bending upwardly at right angles to the body of such tongues outwardly extending projections integral with the material of such tongues and hav ing a shape that they form a positive bar against movement of the interlocking elements in one direction while they do not inhibit movement of the interlocking elements in the opposite direction. The locking lugs 64 and 65 and the free end portions of the tongues 62 and 63 normally extend through a pair of apertures 66 and 61 so that the locking lugs will be disposed in the path' of movement of the interlocking elementsdisposed within the slider.. The spring tongues 62 and 63 are ,bentoutwardly from the body of the spring` member 6| at approximately the point 69 (see-Fig'. 5) to `insure their extending up through the apertures 66 and 61 when the backwardly extending portion 43 of the covering' element 50 is in engagement with the shoulder 44 of the pull tab lock and cause them to bear against the exming surface 68 of the back plate will depress the spring tongues 62 and 63 thereby causing the withdrawal of the locking lugs 64 and 65 into the apertures 66 vand 61 and out of the path of .the interlocking elements in the slider. A small tit 13 may be provided on each of the tongues 62 and 63 for engagement with similarly shaped locking recesses 14 provided in the camming surface 68 so that when the locking lugs are withdrawn from the path of the interlocking elements in the slider, they will be positively held in such inoperative position until removed therefrom by the actuation of the housing member 50. Movement of the housing member 50 is attained by .operating the pull tab 1I in the same manner described with respect to the pull tab I8, illustrated in Figs. v1 to 3. The pull tab 1I- like the pull tab I8 may be also provided -with an aperture 12 adapted to receive the strap 23 on the front plate I0 of the slider, as an addi,

tional means for maintaining the locking lug in inoperative position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that other changes and modifications in the configuration and combination of the several parts may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring .on one plate having a locking detent adapted to enter -through an aperture in said plate into engagement with interlocking elements carried in said slider, a lug carried on` the other of said plates, a pull tab pivotally connected to said lug, a member slidably connectedto said lug and controlled by said pull tab, said slidable member being operatively connected lto said spring and controlling movement thereof.

2. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers havingrows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair oil plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on one plate having a locking detent arranged to enter a recess provided in said plate and engage interlocking elements disposed within said slider, a lug mounted on the other plate of said slider, a housing enclosing said lug and connected for slidable movement longitudinally thereof, said housing being operatively con- 66 nected to said spring and adapted to control the movement thereof, and a pull tab connected to said lug and adapted to control the slidable move-` ment of said housing.

3. A--slider for a slide fastener of the typeA which includes a .pair of stringers having rows oi' spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination', a nair of plates spaced to receive .the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on one plate having a ture in'said plate into engagement` with inter-flocking elements carried in said slider. a lug carried on the other of said plates, a pull tab pivotally connected to said lug, a member slidably connected to said lug and controlled by said pull tab, a transverse member connecting said slidable member with -said spring and camming means operable upon movement of said sliding member tocontrol saidlspring and locking detent. f

4. A'slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of platesA spaced to'receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a ,Spring on. one Aplate having a locking detent adapted to enter through an aperture in said plate into engagement with interlocking elements carried in said slider, a lug carried on the other of said plates, a -.pull tab pivotally connected to said lug, a member slidably connected to said lug and controlled by 'said pull tab, camming means provided onsaid slidable member and a transverse member connected to said spring and engaging said camming means whereby upon sliding movement of said slidable member said transverse member is cammed to operate said spring.

5. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of front and back plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on said back plate having Aa locking detent adapted to enter thrpugh an aperture in said back plate into engagement with interlocking elements carried in said slider, a lug carried on said front plate, a pull tab pivotally connected to said lug, a member slidably connected to said lug and controlled by said pull tab, and a slidable plate disposed against the outer surface of said back plate and connected to said slidable member, said spring being mounted on said slidable plate intermediate the same and said back plate.

6. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair o f stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of front and back plates spaced to receive ,the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on said back plate having a locking detent adapted to enter through an aperture in said back plate includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combinatioma pair of front 4and back'platesv spaced to receive the interlockingelements of the slider, a spring on said back plate having a locking detent adapted to enter through an. aperture in said "back plate into engagement with interlocking elements carried in said slider, a lugI carried on said front plate, a

lpull tab connected'to 4said lug, a pair of longitudinally extending slots on said back plate, a

plate slidably engaging said back plate and having a pair of guide members extending through said slots and engaging the interior surfaces of said back plate, said spring being disposed in a recess provided on said slidable plate intermediate the same and said back plate, a member slidably connected to said lug and controlled by said pull tab and means connecting said slidable plate with said slidable member.

8. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows `of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of front and back plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on said back plate having a locking detent adapted to enter through an aperture in 'said back plate into engagement with interlocking elements carried in said slider, a lug carried on Isaid front plate, a pull tab connected to said lug, a slidable memberon said front plate and controlled by said pull tab, a plate slidably mounted on said back plate for supporting said spring, a transverse member connecting said slidable plate with said'slidable member and a cam surface on said back plate to control said spring as it is moved by said slidable plate.

9. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of front and back plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of .the slider,a spring on said back plate l having a locking detent adapted to enter through an aperture in said` back plate into engagement with interlocking elements carried in said slider, a lug carriedon said front plate, a pull tab connected to said lug, a slidable member on said front plate and controlled by said pull tab, supporting means for said spring slidably connected to said back plate, a transverse member connecting said supporting means' to said -slidable member, camming means on said back plate to actuate said spring upon slidable movement of said supporting means and means'for locking said spring and locking detent at one end of the range of movement of said supporting means.

10. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprisingl in combination, a pair of plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on one plate having a locking detent adapted to enter through an aperture in said plate into engagement with interlocking elements disposed within said slider, camming means controlling the operation of said spring and detent, va member mounted .for sliding movement on the other of said plates and operatively associated with said camming means, a pull tab connected to said slidable member and operable to shift the latter on said other plate to operate said camming lmeans, and means to limit the sliding movements of said slidable mem ber relative to said other plate.

11. A slider for a slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of plates spaced to receive the interlocking ele'- ments of the slider, a spring connected to one of said plates and having a locking detentadapted to enter through an aperture in s uch plate into engagement with interlocking elements disposed within said slider, a lug xedly mounted on the other of said plates, a pull tab pivotally connected to said lug, a member slidably mounted on said lug and connected to said pull tab so that vit may be slidably actuated by the latter, a transverse member attached to the free end of said spring and extending into engagement with said slidable member, said engaged portion of said slidable v 'of spaced interlocking elements along' their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider, a spring on one plate having a `locking detent adapted to enter through an aperture in said plate into engagement with interlocking elements disposed vwithin said slider, alug fxedly secured to the other of said plates, a

'member-slidably mounted on said lug and operatively connected to saidy springto control movement thereof relative'to its associated plate, a pull tab pivotallyconnected to said lug and arranged to Vcontrol the sliding movements of said slidable member, and means on said pull tab adapted to engage and interlock witha member provided on said other plate to lock said sliding member against sliding movement on said lug and to lock said spring member in position where the locking detent is withdrawn from engagement with the interlocking elements positioned within the slider.

13. A slider for a slide fastener ofthe type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their longitudinal edges, comprising in combination, a pair of plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the slider and connected together at one end, a spring plate fixedly secured at one end to the free end of one of vsaid slider plates thereof, a housingv enclosing said lug and connected thereto for slidable movement longitudinally thereof, said housing being. provided on its -under side with a cam surface which engages withthe other end of said transverse member and being formed so that on movement of said slidable housing relative to the lug, said transverse vmember is cammed downwardly to space the spring plate from its associated plate and to Withdraw same when'the slider is drawn from a locked po sition. to open the fastener structure.

JOSEPH BROZEK. 

